Joel W Herrington

Joel W Herrington was the son of Luther Herrington and his wife Susan Anderson. In 1880 Luther Herrington moved the family to Jefferson county Georgia. I found in a sheriffs docket in the upper loft of the Johnson county court house a record where Susan Herrington in about 1882  sued Elbert Powell. From this I suspect Luther had died.

On a side note Mandol Powell who had the affair with Jennie Price was a brother of Elbert Powell who my Great Grandmother Susan sued and Zech Powell who had the affair with Mollie Willoughby who married Joel Herrington. If you look at Johnson county Superior court records you will find Zach and Elbert were always in trouble, They were arrested once for inciting a riot.

As far as Genealogy is concerned Susan Anderson and Calvin Green Powell (Elbert's father) were first cousins. Joel Herrington and Zach Powell were 2nd cousins.

On November 21, 1884 at 20 years of age Joel Herrington married Mollie Wiloby in Johnson county. Unfortunately by February 26, 1886 Joel had filed a Civil Subpoena docket accusing Mollie of adultery. Listed as a witness to Mollie's adultery was Joel's younger brother David Herrington.

Sept. 27, 1886 - Joel Herrington was granted a divorce in Johnson co. Superior court and Mollie was ordered to pay $12.50 in court cost. Also a record exists on September 29, 1886.

Later I'm not sure of the date but it's on page 555 in Superior court records the first time Zach Powell and Mollie appear on the same page charger with adultery. While I have no proof Zach was Mollie's lover it appears likely. The curious thing is Mollie doesn't marry Zach but instead on December 14, 1886 Mollie married David Lonnie Curry the son of Dr. David Curry who served as a doctor at Andersonville prison during the civil war. Of course this could be because Zach was already married and he would later apply for a divorce accusing his wife of adultery. A Johnson Superior court jury would deny his divorce due to a lack of evidence. I do not have this data but have seen it.

On August 27, 1888 - Jos Herrington married Mos L Johnson in Johnson, co Ga. Mozelle Johnson was the grand daughter of Melinda Dickson Warthen whose brother was David Dickson "The Prince of Southern Farmers". David Dickson was a successful planter from Hancock county who died in 1885 leaving the bulk of his $500,000 estate to his illegitimate Afro-American daughter Amanda America Dickson. David's white relatives contested the will all the way to the Georgia Supreme court who in March of 1887 upheld the will thus making Amanda the riches black in the south. I do not know if Mozelle's mother Venitus Warthen who received a small inheritance  joined the white relatives in contesting the will. Venitus's brother Thomas Jefferson Warthen was the David's trusted friend and executor of David Dickson's will and fought for Amanda. The will stated that those who contested it would forfeit their inheritance but Amanda forgave her white relations and gave them their share anyway.

Less than a month after his marriage to Mozelle Johnson on September 14, 1888 Joel Herrington filed a petition in the Johnson co. Ga. Court of Ordinary to retrieve a minor child from Mollie Harrington.

In 1889 in Johnson co Deed records and mortgages (H-365) Joel Herrington purchased 30 acres of land from his Mother-in-Law V.D. Johnson (Venetus Warthen Johnson).

1890 - Lessie Herrington is born to Joel and Mozelle Herrington.

September 24, 1890 - Zach Powell and Mollie Herrington's cases are rescheduled due to a Jury conflict.

March 27, 1891 - Zach Powell found guilty of Adultery, On March 28, 1891 Zach is sentenced to 12 months in chain gang for Adultery

October 3, 1891 - David Curry fined $25 for Libel

1892 - Samuel Lawson Herrington is born

August 24, 1892 - According to Moselle Johnson in her 12 month support request Joel Herrington died on 5/24/1892 at the age of 28. Family verbal history is that Joel was a professional boxer and was killed in a boxing match. No grave has been found for Joel Herrington.

Additional Info.  - Others who I have been unable to find after the 1880 census who might have shared the same fate as Joel Herrington are.

Joel's brother David Herrington who was listed as a witness to Mollie's adultery. The last record of David was in 1886 at which time he would have been 20 years of age. In 1892 David Herrington would have been 26. No grave has been found for David Herrington.

September 30, 1892 - Adultery charges are dropped against Mollie Willoughby Herrington because the witness is dead.

October 1892 - Mozelle Herrington sells the her 30 acre farm in Johnson county.

February 20, 2003